The 163 steps on the 16th Avenue staircase, seen from the bottom up, are a work of art. The view from the top is a masterpiece of nature.

The 163 steps on the 16th Avenue staircase, seen from the bottom up, are a work of art. The view from the top is a masterpiece of nature.

Photo: Siana Hristova, The Chronicle

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The Staircase on Moraga and 16th Ave in San Francisco, Ca on March 20, 2012.

The Staircase on Moraga and 16th Ave in San Francisco, Ca on March 20, 2012.

Photo: Siana Hristova, The Chronicle

Image 3 of 4

The Staircase on Moraga and 16th Ave in San Francisco, Ca on March 20, 2012.

The Staircase on Moraga and 16th Ave in San Francisco, Ca on March 20, 2012.

Photo: Siana Hristova, The Chronicle

Image 4 of 4

Bottom to top, steps a masterpiece

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Looking up from the bottom of the 16th Avenue steps in Golden Gate Heights, what comes to mind is Vincent van Gogh's "Starry Night."

Each of the 163 risers is inlaid with colorful tile, forming a swirling pattern of rivers, wind, stars and moonlight, ending in a sunburst.

More than 300 neighbors put the mosaic together in 2005 as a gift to themselves, with funding from the San Francisco Parks Trust.

The project was inspired by the mosaic Santa Teresa Steps in Rio de Janeiro.

It's best to take your time climbing, because each riser has hidden finds. There's an infant's footprint in one, a small tile bat in another. A wedge of Swiss cheese. A bee. A grasshopper.

Volunteers put their names in some of the tiles, giving the steps a hometown feel.

The bottom section is an ocean, with jellyfish, shells and sea lions. The midsection is botanical, with vines, small beetles and flowers. Higher, small animals appear: squirrels, turtles, a pelican. Near the top, the mosaic becomes night, with mirrored tiles for stars and a crescent moon. The steps finish in a brilliant sunburst, with an orange sun with mirrored rays on a white background.

Looking back down from the top, the staircase looks like any other, with ordinary gray stair treads masking the kaleidoscope of color underneath. The beauty vanishes.

But look again toward the horizon. On a clear day you can see the waves crashing on Ocean Beach.

From down below or up above, both views are worth every ounce of effort. {sbox}